The agrin gene codes for a family of basal lamina proteins that differ in function and distribution. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • We isolated two cDNAs that encode isoforms of agrin, the basal lamina protein that mediates the motor neuron-induced aggregation of acetylcholine receptors on muscle fibers at the neuromuscular junction. Both proteins are the result of alternative splicing of the product of the agrin gene, but unlike agrin, they are inactive in standard acetylcholine receptor aggregation assays. They lack one (agrin-related protein 1) or two (agrin-related protein 2) regions in agrin that are required for its activity. Expression studies provide evidence that both proteins are present in the nervous system and muscle and that, in muscle, myofibers and Schwann cells synthesize the agrin-related proteins while the axon terminals of motor neurons are the sole source of agrin.

published proceedings

  • Neuron

altmetric score

  • 6

author list (cited authors)

  • Ruegg, M. A., Tsim, K. W., Horton, S. E., Krger, S., Escher, G., Gensch, E. M., & McMahan, U. J.

citation count

  • 233

complete list of authors

  • Ruegg, MA||Tsim, KW||Horton, SE||Kröger, S||Escher, G||Gensch, EM||McMahan, UJ

publication date

  • January 1992

published in